Dahlia plant named &#39;KLEDH13037&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Dahlia  plant particularly distinguished by a dark-red flower color, a compact, and semi-upright habit and good basal branching, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Dahlia sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEDH13037’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dahlia,botanically known as Dahlia sp., and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEDH13037’. ‘KLEDH13037’ originated from anopen-pollination conducted in Summer 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany betweenthe proprietary female Dahlia variety ‘DH-2009-0559’ (unpatented) and anunknown male Dahlia variety (unpatented).

The seeds from the open-pollination were sown and plants were grown in agreenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated‘KLEDH13037’ was selected from the group in May 2010 of plants inStuttgart, Germany. In May 2010, ‘KLEDH13037’ was first vegetativelypropagated by unrooted cuttings. ‘KLEDH13037’ was found to reproducetrue to type in successive generations of asexual propagation viaunrooted cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Dark-red flower color;

2. A compact, and semi-upright habit and

3. Good basal branching.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Dahlia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs ofthe variety grown in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany and takenin March 2014. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the foliage, habit, and flowers of a 3-month old plantgrown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the ray florets and disc florets of a matureflower of a plant about 5-months old.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEDH13037’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 4-month old plants grown in acontrolled greenhouse environment approximating those generally used incommercial production, pinched once, with a growth regulator, and undernatural and artificial light. Color references are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th)edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical.—Dahlia sp.        -   Common.—Dahlia.        -   Designation.—‘KLEDH 13037’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Dahlia variety            ‘DH-2009-0559’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—An unknown male Dahlia variety (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright, free basal            branching, and inflorescences held above the foliar plane.        -   Height.—20.0 cm to 25.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—35.0 cm to 40.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Unrooted cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—3 to 4 weeks.        -   Root description.—Medium thickness and light tan in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching and moderately dense.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—About 15.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Aspect.—Outwardly spreading; about 30 degrees from vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS N77.-   Foliage/leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves are opposite, 3 to 5 leaflets per leaf,            pinnately compound.        -   Length.—Up to 19.0 cm.        -   Width.—Up to 23.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A Lower surface:            RHS 141C.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 136A Lower surface:            RHS 136C.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Pilose.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both surfaces).—RHS 136A; sometimes            anthocyanin is present but is mainly on the basal leaves on            the upper surfaces.        -   Petioles.—Length: 5.0 cm up to the first leaflet pair; about            4.0 cm up to the second leaflet pair Diameter: About 0.5 cm            Texture: Upper surface: Smooth Lower surface: Smooth, but            sparsely covered with hairs Color: Upper surface: RHS 59A            Lower surface: RHS 143C.-   Buds:    -   -   Height.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblate.        -   Color.—RHS 59A and RHS 143B towards the base.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Daisy-eyed double inflorescences            held above the foliar plane.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Time to flower.—In the winter, about 3 months after            planting; in the summer, about 2 months after planting.        -   Post-production longevity.—Plants flower continuously from            spring through autumn.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9.0 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—About 6.0 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Receptacle height.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Receptacle color.—RHS 144B and RHS 59A towards the tips.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 70 arranged in about 6            whorls.        -   Length.—4.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to oblate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Semi-upright.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color, immature.—Upper surface: RHS 53A to RHS 59A Lower            surface: RHS 59B.        -   Color, mature.—Upper surface: RHS 53A Lower surface: RHS            59B.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 60.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Texture (both the upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color, both mature and immature, both upper and lower            surfaces.—RHS N77A.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—4 to 5.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded to truncate.        -   Margin.—Absent.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A; anthocyanin at the basal end            or all over the surface Lower surface: RHS 143A.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length, terminal peduncle.—Up to 18.0 cm.        -   Length, axillary peduncle.—Up to 18.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Aspect.—Semi-upright.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS N77A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Present on only fully developed on disc florets.            Quantity per floret: 4 to 5 Filament length: About 0.6 cm            Filament color: RHS 3C Anther shape: Lanceolate Anther            length: 0.5 cm Anther color: RHS 15A Pollen amount: Abundant            Pollen color: RHS 21A.        -   Gynoecium.—Quantity per floret: 1 Pistil length: 1.0 cm            Style length: 0.4 cm Style color: RHS 1D Stigma shape:            Lanceolate pinnate Stigma color: RHS 7A Ovary color: RHS            154C.-   Fruit and seed set: No fruit and seed set observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDH13037’ is a distinct variety of Dahlia and is distinguished fromits parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Characteristic‘KLEDH13037’ ‘DH-2009-0559’ Branching Better basal branching Less basalbranching than ‘DH-2009-0559’ than ‘KLEDH13037’

‘KLEDH13037’ is a distinct variety of Dahlia and is most similar to thecommercial Dahlia variety ‘Dalaya Raja’ (also known as ‘KLEDH13034’,unpatented). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDH13037’‘Dalaya Raja’ Flower color, of Dark red Purple ray florets

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dahlia plant designated‘KLEDH 13037’ as shown and described herein.